Best Food And Most Memorable Meals.......

The Mighty John Hancock Building Towers Over Chicago and Lake Michigan

Cindy and I were talking last night over dinner, and the question arose as to which meals we have had together were most memorable and which ones were the best in terms of most appetizing.

Those are very tough questions.  We have traveled so much, and had so many wonderful and memorable dinners, and so many truly great home-cooked meals, that it really is impossible to say any given one is THE BEST.

But, we decided to try to answer those questions individually and then compare our answers.  So...here goes!:

---MOST MEMORABLE RESTAURANT MEAL:
Signature Room, John Hancock Building, 95th Floor, Chicago

Signature Room---The Sky's the Limit!  What a View!

The Windy City Comes Ablaze at Nightfall

Before we were married, in October of 2001, Cindy and I traveled to Chicago.  I was working a trade show there.  One night I decided to splurge.  We had dinner at the fabulous Signature Room high atop the mighty John Hancock building.  Our table was on the north side of the dining room, with a window table view of Lake Michigan.  It was beautiful and romantic.  We also had a view of the city of Chicago, with lights ablaze as the sun went down. 

North Shore Drive From the Signature Room

It was magic.  I don't remember what we had to eat, but I do remember how delicious it was.  We were overpowered by the view, the intimacy, the romance.  It was an unforgettable evening.

MOST MEMORABLE HOME MEAL:
Cindy's 2008 Surprise Birthday Party With 50 Friends

Cindy is Surprised!

For Cindy's birthday two years ago I planned a surprise party for her.  At the time, she was working as a beauty consultant for Estee Lauder.  I picked her up from work and brought her home on a Friday evening at 6:00. 

Part of Our Gathering

When we entered the home from our garage, our fifty friends were waiting with noise makers.  And make NOISE they did!  Cindy was shocked.  I had a huge chocolate Texas sheet cake with her name on it and a few candles. 

More of Our Friends

I arranged a catered dinner from the Corner Bakery.  There were overstuffed sandwiches of all kinds, assorted salads, and some of the best lemonade I ever drank.  Cake and ice cream rounded out the fare.  We had a blast.

The Three Stooges---L-R---Ray, Me, Wayne

BEST RESTAURANT FOOD:
Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City, Florida

Best Meal

My travels took us to Florida.  We stopped outside Tampa one night and I made reservations at the fabled Columbia Restaurant in nearby Ybor City.  The establishment was founded in 1905 and specializes in Cuban fare.  We were charmed by the interior furnishings and the friendliness of the waitstaff. 

Interior of the Columbia Restaurant

But that was nothing to the incredible food.  I don't recall what Cindy had to eat, but I sure do remember what I ate.  I started off with black beans and rice with chopped onions.  My God, I never had anything so delicious in my life.  In fact, I ordered two bowls of the stuff.  We washed our appetizers down with their fantastic sangria. 

My Paella Was Outrageous

I was in heaven---but I was totally blown away by the main course:  paella.  It was the best restaurant meal I have ever had, and so memorable because Cindy was with me.

My Cindy---What a Cook!

BEST HOME FOOD:
Cindy's Unforgettable King Ranch Casserole

Betcha' Can't Eat Just One Plate full

Shortly after we moved to the Lone Star State, we started to become "Texanized".  This means many things, but one of the important meanings is that we started to develop a passion for southwestern cooking.  Cindy is a very talented cook, and when she decided to try a new dish with a Texas flavor, I was all for it. 

Fresh From the Oven

Her version of King Ranch Casserole quickly assumed first place on my favorites list.  A perfect blend of chicken, cheese, assorted peppers, tomatoes, tortillas and more....

We have enjoyed this dish many times over the past few years, often with dinner guests.  Her presentation of this dinner always plays to rave reviews.

You may view Cindy's opinions of her favorites in the above categories at her blog.

The Armor of God....

It is 5:00 AM, and even with the "falling back" of the clock on this Sunday morning, it is very dark outside as I begin my morning walk.

The night is quiet and still and cold and clear.  I am clothed in my full length jogging pants and a double layered shirt.  I am wearing gloves for the first time since last winter.

My pace quickens and becomes a steady drumbeat against the pavement.  In the magic of the early morning, my thoughts turn to the Lord.  The wonder of it all.  All of His grace that has enabled an undeserving soul like me to achieve happiness and fulfillment.  And the knowledge that all we have to do to be saved is to believe, confess, ask forgiveness, have faith, and love God and love our neighbor.  The wonder of it all.

For me, the hardest thing is loving my neighbor (Who is my neighbor?---everyone!).  All day long---everyday---it seems that rudeness and arrogance and just plain meanness are all around us.  At home.  At work. On the highway.  At church.

My thoughts turn to Ephesians 6:10-18.  What beautiful words to address this problem of Satan in our relationships!

Especially verse 12--- "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

And then, verse 11:  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

Thank you, Paul!  Arriving home in the stillness, I have wrapped His armor around me, and I am ready to meet the day.

Suddenly I am Very Tired Of.......

This is a different kind of post from my usual offering.  My wife uttered the statement, "Suddenly I'm very tired of______" this morning, and it registered deep within me.  I started thinking of the things in contemporary society that have become irksome at best and loathsome at worst to me.  This is not designed to offend anyone, but I know that it will offend everyone.  So be it.  But, not to worry---in the near future I will be offering a list of those things for which I am thankful.  Enjoy.

These are in no particular order:

Madam Speaker

---Politicians

---The phrase "At the end of the day...."

Please Sue Someone So We Can Make Some Big Money

---TV commercials by law firms encouraging people to sue

Darn!  Joe's Got Low T Again...

---Drug companies advertising drugs for non-existent or dubious conditions

There's Definitely No Fool Like An Old Fool

---Andy Griffith's TV ad for Obamacare.

Have I Told You Lately How Much I Love Me?

---Jerry Jones and his pathetic Dallas Cowboys

---The term "Going Green" and the phony "Global Warming" non-issue

Gloria Consoles One Of Tiger's Mistresses

---Lawyers

A banker is a Guy Who'll Loan You an Umbrella When The Sun Is Shining, But Wants it Back When it Begins to Rain

---Bankers

EVERYTHING is Your Fault, George---EVERYTHING

---The democrat excuse for everything---"It's George Bush's fault"
---More US government spending and debt

Same to You, Fella

---Drivers who speed, cut in and out of traffic, run stop signs, and who are generally rude behind the wheel

---Airports and airlines

---Atheists

Li'l Wayne's Latest Mug Shot---and PS---Your "Music" Stinks

---Rappers

---Obama's trip to India, costing US taxpayers $200 million per day

I Can Only Imagine The Topic of Discussion

---Hugo Chavez

First Taste of Moonshine?

---Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
---The Iranian Government

Creepy Kim

---The North Korean Government

---The Chinese Government

---The US Government

I'm Not a Big Fan of War

---War

This Picture Says it All

 ---Oil Companies

DUH!!!!

---The issue of "Gun Control"

Whatever it is, Paris....WE DON'T CARE

---Paris Hilton

My Name is O'Reilly, and I Have the World's Largest Ego

---Bill O'Reilly

It's A Bird!  It's A Plane!

---Barack Obama

Let's See---Has Anyone Seen My Other Personalities Lately?

---Mel Gibson

The Photographic Image of Spooky

---George Soros

Lindsay's Death Wish

---Lindsay Lohan

Morning Lasagna (and evening, too!)

Cindy's lasagna---Wonderful Any Time of Day

Cindy made her scrumptious lasagna for dinner last night.  It is so decadent that we only feast on it about once or twice a year.  The recipe she uses makes quite a bit, so there was plenty left over.  Naturally, I could not resist the temptation this morning of digging into the remaining delicacy.
 Now, I know lotsa' folks roll their eyes at the thought of something like lasagna for breakfast, but I am unencumbered by any such restrictions of thought when it comes to food.  Hells bells---if it was really good for dinner, it is gonna be really good for breakfast. 

Anyway, the above picture is my breakfast plate consisting of lasagna and garlic bread.  Oh yeah, babe.......it's gonna be a good day!

I got a few of her notes on this recipe....

---1 1/2 lbs ground beef with 1/2 lb Italian sausage

---Boil lasagna noodles until pliable and allow to continue cooking during baking

---Add chopped fresh parsley and fresh grated parmesan cheese to ricotta cheese with one beaten egg

---Use Ragu traditional spaghetti sauce in jar---less ingredients (preservatives) than other brands

BON APPETIT!





Judah P Benjamin



Judah P Benjamin, "The Brains of the Confederacy"

One of the most unlikely of American stories involves Judah P. Benjamin, who was known as "the Brains of the Confederacy" during the American Civil War.

Benjamin was the second Jewish senator in United States history.  His home state was Louisiana, where he was a slaveholder, owning 150 negroes before releasing them.

In 1853, Benjamin was elected U. S. senator, and served in that capacity until the Civil War began in 1861.  Of course, being from Louisiana, his affections were with the southern war effort.  President Jefferson Davis appointed him the first Attorney General of the Confederacy.

Later, Benjamin was called on to also serve as Secretary of War and then, later still, as Secretary of State.  He possessed a brilliant mind, and therefore he came to be referred to as "The South's Greatest Brain".

Following the South's defeat, he escaped to England, where he became a prominent attorney.

He died in 1884 and is buried in Paris, France.

I wrote the following poem about this remarkable figure:

              JUDAH P BENJAMIN

The perpetual smile of the Southern Dark Prince
Masks a mind like a steel trap, decisive and true;
And his manner is pleasantly courteous, since
He is elder-statesman, Confederate.....and Jew.


A principled lawyer, styled powerf'ly plain.....
One step ahead of his foes, often two;
Extolled by admirers as the South's greatest brain,
Secretary of State, states-rightist.....and Jew.


Throughout his full lifetime he struggled alone.....
From St. Croix to Charleston to New Haven he grew;
Then to Lou'siana, where his influence shone
As senator, planter, defender.....and Jew.


Chief advisor to Jeff Davis, sweeping away
The bias of centuries, etched through and through
With hatred; sharp, biting reason keeping at bay
Prejudice opposing proud patriot.....and Jew.


(C) 2000 Clint Ellison

"Knowing You'll Be There" By Guy Penrod/David Phelps/Russ Taff/Bill Gait...

One day in 2006, Cindy and I were watching television after dinner, surfing the hundreds of channels that are available, and unable to find anything interesting to watch.  By and by we stumbled across a gospel music channel.  Now neither she nor I had ever before been fans of that genre of music.  In fact, I would never have even considered listening to it, much less watching it on television.

But something began to happen as I prepared to move to the next channel.  "This is good", I thought to myself.  We continued to watch.  For the first time, we met Bill Gaither, his wife, Gloria, and a host of truly great gospel music singers.  In short, we became addicted. 

To date, we have accumulated about a hundred Gaither DVDs and CDs.  Through Gaither Productions, we have been blessed to meet such legendary gospel greats as Jake Hess, George Younce, Vestal Goodman, JD Sumner and so very many more.

Two years ago we were blessed to have been able to see their live performance as they toured through Texas.

The Gaithers have been called the most important Christian songwriters of the 20th century.  With their far-reaching gospel music ministry, I believe they are also two of the most effective magnets for Christ in the world today.

Pictured above L-R are David Phelps, Russ Taff, Bill Gaither, and Guy Penrod.

Please listen carefully to the lyrics and take comfort that you, as a Believer, will find it easy to go home, knowing your loved ones will be there, too.

Sultana

In April of 1865 the Civil War had just ended.  On April 27 of that year, the greatest maritime disaster in United States history occurred.

The SS Sultana, a Mississippi River paddlewheel steamboat, packed with 2,400 passengers, left Memphis and headed north.  Most of the passengers were union troops who had just been released from duty and were headed home.  The capacity of the ship was 376.  This severe overcrowding made the vessel top heavy and unstable.

At 2:00 AM, three of the four boilers on the ship exploded.  The ship began to burn, and finally sank, with a loss of approximately 1,800 souls.

Because of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln 12 days earlier, the tragedy of the Sultana was not given the attention it deserved in the press.